September 17, 2010

Obituaries

Please submit in writing to our office by 10 a.m. Thursday before the week of publication; be sure to state date of death. Obituaries of archdiocesan priests serving our archdiocese are listed elsewhere in The Criterion. Order priests and religious sisters and brothers are included here, unless they are natives of the archdiocese or have other connections to it; those are separate obituaries on this page.

DUFEK, James W., 68, St. Jude, Indianapolis, Sept. 2. Husband of Donna Dufek. Father of Carrie Alumbaugh and Barb DeRiter. Brother of Donald, Jerome, John and Paul Dufek. Grandfather of six. Great-grandfather of three.

Franciscan Sister Anna Marie Stier was a teacher and principal

Franciscan Sister Anna Marie Stier, formerly Sister Mary Prudence, died on Aug. 30 at St. Clare Hall, the health care facility for the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, at the motherhouse in Oldenburg. She was 100.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Sept. 3 at the motherhouse chapel. Burial followed at the sisters’ cemetery.

She was born on July 2, 1910, in Greensburg.

She entered the Oldenburg Franciscan community on Aug. 15, 1930, and professed her final vows on July 2, 1936.

Sister Anna Marie celebrated her 80th year in religious life and marked her 100th birthday this year.

Two of her sisters were also Oldenburg Franciscans.

She ministered in Catholic education as a teacher and principal for 50 years.

In the archdiocese, Sister Anna Marie served at St. Mark the Evangelist School in Indianapolis, St. Michael the Archangel School in Indianapolis and St. Lawrence School in Lawrenceburg.

Sister Anna Marie also ministered at Catholic schools in Ohio and Missouri.

She retired to St. Clare Hall at the motherhouse in 1991.

Surviving are two sisters, Margaret Feldman of Virginia and Loretta Zoellner of Indianapolis, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Memorial gifts may be sent to the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, IN 47036.

Providence Sister Grace Stewart was a teacher and nurse’s aide

Providence Sister Grace Stewart died on Sept. 1 at Mother Theodore Hall at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. She was 96.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Sept. 8 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at the motherhouse. Burial followed at the sisters’ cemetery.

The former Mary Elizabeth Stewart was born on Feb. 20, 1914, in Indianapolis.

She entered the congregation of the Sisters of Providence on Aug. 20, 1929, and professed her first vows on Jan. 23, 1932, and her final vows on Aug. 15, 1937.

Sister Grace earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in education at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

During 81 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered in education for 32 years at Catholic schools in Indiana, Illinois, New Hampshire, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

In the archdiocese, Sister Grace taught at the former Holy Trinity School in New Albany from 1956-67.

After retiring from teaching, Sister Grace ministered as a nurse’s aide at the motherhouse then did volunteer service at the motherhouse and in Maryland.

In 1997, she began her prayer ministry full-time at the motherhouse.

Surviving are several cousins.

Memorial gifts may be sent to the Sisters of Providence, 1 Sisters of Providence Road, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876. †